First of all, our church does not 'tell' anyone how to conduct their
affairs on any matter. Each person is an autonomous individual and is
completely free to decide which approach they deem most appropriate.
Most Christian Scientists have first hand experience of the healing
power of prayer and are quite confident of the wholesome
effectiveness of Christian Science treatment. They have learned to
turn to prayer first because they have found that they really can
trust God with all their prayer requests. Like I said, the promise of
Christian Science healing is not an empty one. We take quite
seriously Jesus promise that 'these signs shall follow them that
believe;...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.'
(Mark 16:17,18).
They have seen proof of this in their own lives, just as I mentioned
about my own healing. I have absolute faith that God heals when
properly appealed to through prayer. Christian Scientists do not
denounce the use of medical means to effect healing, but they have
witnessed and trust that spiritual healing is significantly more
effective. If a Christian Scientist wishes to pursue medical
treatment, they are completely free to do so, there is no penalty
assigned to this whatsoever. We are given constitutional rights to
practice our religion, just as you are. As I said before, if
Christian Science treatment was a dismal failure, then you have a
perfect right to demand a better responsibility, but it is effective,
it is a proven system of healing, and a growing number of doctors and
health care providers, insurance companies and legislators accept
this. How can you dispute our record of success? As for the
occasional failure, we acknowledge this, and are saddened by any
loss, !
but
can the medical faculty claim a spotless record either? There is no
guarantee of healing when you use medical methods, but if you believe
the promises in the Bible, and have learned to trust that they are
not empty promises, that God is a 'very present help in times of
trouble', then you are relieved of the fear which attends physical
difficulties and this goes a long way towards the effecting of
healing. I can only say that it works, it is effective and I have
learned to 'trust in the Lord, and lean not unto my own
understanding'.
Stuart Kirkley
--On Sat, 27 Apr 2002 20:50:41 MikeSatterlee wrote: >Hello Stu, > >Earlier you admitted that some children of Christian Science practitioner >parents have died because their parents failed to take them soon enough to a >doctor when they were sick. You then asked, "When a parent relies on medical >treatment for their children, and it is not succesful, do we hold those >parents culpable for their childs fate?" The answer to that question, of >course, is 'No." Why? Because the parents took the child to the doctor as >soon as they knew the child was sick. They probably then also prayed for >their child's recovery. In other words, they did all they could for their >child, as soon as they could. > >Why do Christian Science parents not do the same? Why do some Christian >Science parents wait to take their children to see a Doctor only after their >prayer method of healing does not seem to be working, when it is sometimes >too late? Why does your Church not tell people to see a Doctor right away and >then pray for healing while under the Doctor's care? > >Mike > >Mike >
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